Finland joins France-led nuclear deterrence initiative

Finland has joined a French-led initiative aimed at strengthening Europe’s nuclear deterrence, becoming the latest Nordic country to participate in the framework launched by French President Emmanuel Macron in March 2026.

The initiative, known as “forward deterrence,” initially brought together eight countries and was later joined by Norway. Sweden and Denmark have also signed on, with Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen describing Finland’s participation alongside its Nordic partners as a natural step.

“The French initiative will strengthen Europe’s increasingly active approach to defence. Its objective is to reinforce security and deterrence across Europe,” Häkkänen said.

“France is a European nuclear power that plays a key role in strengthening the defence of Europe. Finland joining the French initiative will significantly deepen our bilateral defence cooperation with France and strengthen the security of Finland,” he added.

The French framework will remain separate from NATO’s nuclear deterrence arrangements and will not duplicate the alliance’s structures. Finland continues to regard NATO’s nuclear-sharing arrangements and the US extended nuclear deterrent as the ultimate guarantees of allied security.

Participating countries will determine the scope and pace of their involvement and will not receive collective defence guarantees from France or be required to contribute financially to maintaining its nuclear arsenal.

“The joining countries will not have obligations like NATO’s collective defence. Moreover, France is not asking the other countries to contribute to the costs of maintaining the nuclear deterrence,” Häkkänen said.

France will retain sole control over its nuclear weapons and decisions concerning its vital national interests, while its nuclear doctrine will remain strictly defensive.

Cooperation could range from consultations on French nuclear doctrine to participation in exercises, contributions of conventional capabilities and, potentially, the temporary deployment of elements of France’s strategic air forces in participating countries.

“Examples of possible forms of cooperation include dialogue on the French nuclear doctrine, joint exercises where the joining country is an observer or contributes conventional capabilities or, ultimately, the temporary deployment of elements of French strategic air forces in the allied country”, Häkkänen said.

Finnish and French officials will now discuss the initial framework for cooperation before negotiating detailed arrangements. Helsinki said its participation remains consistent with its international obligations, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

“Europe must assume a greater role both in conventional defence and in nuclear burden sharing. Discussions on reinforcing nuclear deterrence and strengthening the security of Europe are essential for Finland’s defence,” Häkkänen said.

By Vafa Guliyeva